Teenager charged with felony in Winter Haven bike robbery

A 16-year-old boy has been charged with a felony after pushing a 9-year-old boy off a bicycle and taking the bike, Winter Haven police said.

The incident happened about 7 p.m. Sept. 3, when the 9-year-old was riding in the area of Briarcrest Apartments on Avenue K Southeast, police said. Two males approached him, and one of them, Altariq Hassan Graves, 505 Ave. O, SE, told the younger boy to give up his bike. When the 9-year-old refused and tried to ride off, Graves pushed the boy off the bike, police said.

The 9-year-old was not hurt, police said.

After an investigation, Graves was arrested Thursday and charged with felony second-degree robbery and taken to the Polk County Juvenile Assessment Center. Graves also had a felony drug arrest in 2011, police said.

“Though stealing a bike doesn’t sound like a big deal, this young victim suffered a traumatic event at the hands of Graves,” said police Chief Gary Hester. “Forcibly taking someone’s property without their permission is robbery and a felony of the second degree, no matter if the suspect is a juvenile or an adult.“